UH hires Oklahoma State’s Meacham as offensive coordinator

By Joseph Duarte |
January 5, 2013
| Updated: January 5, 2013 9:57pm

The University of Houston has hired Oklahoma State assistant coach Doug Meacham as offensive coordinator, a source close to the program said Saturday.

Meacham, 49, spent the past eight seasons at Oklahoma State, where most recently he was inside receivers coach for one of the nation's most prolific offenses.

The hiring fills a spot on the UH staff that has been vacant since the firing of Mike Nesbitt two days after a 30-13 loss to Texas State in the season opener.

Meacham will handle the play-calling duties while Travis Bush — who filled in following the departure of Nesbitt — will serve as co-offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, the source said on the condition of anonymity.

UH officials had no comment on the hiring, which is expected to be announced Monday.

At Oklahoma State, Meacham assisted a unit that averaged at least 40 points and ranked among the nation's top 10 in total offense in five of the last six years. Oklahoma State was third in scoring (45.7 points), fourth in total offense (547) and seventh in passing (331.7) this season.

Meacham will be charged with reviving a UH offense that struggled with inexperience and inconsistent quarterback play this season. The Cougars were 16th nationally in total offense (479.6) and 38th in scoring (32.4) in the first season following the departure of NCAA all-time passing leader Case Keenum. UH went 5-7 and failed to reach a bowl for only the second time in the last eight seasons.

UH and Oklahoma State have both traditionally run high-powered, up-tempo spread offenses, so it's unclear what changes, if any, will be made with the arrive of Meacham.Previously, Meacham was offensive coordinator at Samford (2002-04), Jacksonville State (1997-99) and Georgia Military (1991-96).